Bab 60: Chapter 60: The Final Challenge, Part 1

Rath wolfed down his breakfast as he headed for the stable, the guard who'd reappeared sometime in the night following close on his heels. The one day he'd needed to be awake on time, if not early, and he was bordering on being late.

He threw open the stable doors and strode inside—

Cried out when something slammed into his face and sent him stumbling back to crash on the courtyard cobblestones. Blood streamed from his nose, but Rath ignored it, save to use the sleeve of his jacket to staunch the worst of it. Behind him, the guard had thrown aside his own breakfast and drawn his sword, moving to stand in front of Rath as five men came out of the stable.

Rath scrambled to his feet, swearing when he saw three more men coming in the gate. "Fates curse you all."

The guard screamed as he lunged at them, one man not getting out of the way fast enough to avoid a blade to the gut.